OCD - Osteochondritis

Common diseases - OCD, Osteochondritis

Osteochondritis is an ossification problem that occurs during the development of an animal, generally less than one year old. Consequently, a small area of the bone remains cartilaginous at the level of the subchondral region (located under the joint cartilage). This abnormal cartilage is predisposed to trauma, and it can fissure and become detached, resulting in osteochondritis dissecans.

This problem is often encountered among large breed puppies and is considered rare among small breed dogs and among cats.

The cause has not yet been well established; however, this disease is considered to be multifactorial, implicating genetic and environmental factors.

The affected joints are: the shoulder, the elbow, the knee and the tarsus (heel)